Lionel Messi reveals his Barcelona goal against Manchester United in 2009 UEFA Champions League final is his favourite

Lionel Messi's brilliant header against Manchester United in the 2009 UEFA Champions League final is his favourite ever goal. Messi has scored more than 800 goals in his remarkable career, but his effort in Rome that helped Barcelona to European glory beats all the rest according to the Argentine superstar. Messi currently plays his club football with Inter Miami, where he has been since 2023.

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Lionel Messi has said his famous header for Barcelona in the 2009 UEFA Champions League final against Manchester United is his favourite ever goal.

Football icon Messi has scored more than 800 goals in his remarkable career, with many observers believing him to be the greatest player of all time.

Messi currently plays for Inter Miami, but his most famous years in club football were undoubtedly with Barcelona.

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Pep Guardiola's team were taking on a very strong United side under Sir Alex Ferguson in the 2009 final in Rome.

But Barcelona were too good on the night, with Messi's header sealing a 2-0 win for the Catalan giants.

"I had many goals that are perhaps even more beautiful and of enormous value, also because of their importance, but the header in the Champions League final against Manchester United was always my favourite," Messi said.

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It was the first of three Champions League triumphs for Messi, who was also part of the Barcelona team that saw off United in the 2011 final at Wembley.

Messi scored his side's second goal in a 3-1 win in London, a success that cemented their profile at the time as one of the greatest club sides in history.

The Argentine superstar then made it a hat-trick when he inspired Barcelona to victory over Juventus in the 2015 UEFA Champions League final in Munich.

The record eight-time Ballon d'Or winner chose his goal in Rome as part of the 'A Goal in Life' charity campaign, partnering with artist Refik Anadol to create a work of art.

Messi celebrates after scoring against Manchester United in Rome

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Messi eventually left Barcelona in 2021, playing for two seasons in France with Paris Saint-Germain before moving to Inter Miami.

Messi scored his 800th career goal in a 2-0 win for Argentina against Panama in 2023, three months after he inspired his nation to World Cup glory in Qatar.

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